MusicInterviewsNow.com

Randy Hall and Eric Todd from Music Interviews Now sat down with Framing Hanley drummer Chris Vest. They discussed what Chris was doing before Framing Hanley hit it big, how they kill time on the tour bus and how their current hit “Lollipop” came to be. Framing Hanley is a band living their dream. They show how much they enjoy what they are doing, by leaving it all on the stage each and every night. Their shows are full of energy and enthusiasm and we strongly recommend for you to go check them out when they come to a venue near you.

I think its just raw energy...these guys are chill back stage, but when we hit the stage we are gonna throw down. We put as much into the show as we can. It’s a 30-45 minute full force set.

You re-released “The Moment,” is this your first major city tour?

This is our first headlining tour...about a month ago we spent some time with Theory of a Deadman, and did some shows here and there.

We had a chance to interview Dean (Theory) and he was very gracious to us...we also got to hang out with them at Twisted 15...

They were the first big band that treated us as equals.

Do you have a favorite place to play yet?

For me, it’s probably the Machine Shop in Flint, MI. I don’t know what it is, but it was the first big venue that we played outside of Tennessee. When we came back as a headliner, it was sold out before we even got there. There are a lot of memories at that place. It made us feel like we were going in the right direction.

How did Framing Hanley start out?

It was me and Luke (bass) in high school...and we went to school with Brandon. And the others were from the same area. I met Nixon at a community college...then we brought in Brandon, and everyone else was one by one.

What’s the story with the signing...the Creed connection?

We were looking for someone to do EP’s with us, and we ran in to Brad Hessla on MySpace actually. He wanted us to come down and do some songs with him...so we played “Hear Me Now,” which ended up being our first single. He was the touring bassist for Creed, and then was with Dark New Day...anyway, he passed our material to Jeff Hanson and he took us on with Silent Majority Group.

“Lollipop,” who, what, where, when...who’s idea?

I have to give Nixon the credit on that one. We were all just sitting around and had a couple drinks at practice...we had Tim on Guitar, and his friend was filling in...it came out as a joke, and the fans were hitting MySpace pretty hard...the next thing you know, the label was releasing it as a single.

So did you get to meet Lil’ Wayne, and what did he think?

No...we are all real big fans of his music. We heard he says real good things about it. Hopefully our paths will cross.

What’s a Framing Hanley show like?

I think its just raw energy...these guys are chill back stage, but when we hit the stage we are gonna throw down. We put as much into the show as we can. It’s a 30-45 minute full force set.

What’s your craziest fan moment?

Uhhh...I don’t know that we have had any crazy moments...some you enjoy, some you don’t.

All the bands that I talk to are just about into their late early to late 30’s...how old are you all?

We are all about 22, 23, and 24. Actually, our guitarist Ryan is 19. We got lucky, and everything started to come into place about two years ago.

Who’s your inspiration on the drums?

The reason why I started playing drums was Lars Ulrich from Metallica...then from there I saw Morgan Rose from Sevendust. One of my favorite bands!

What equipment do you play?

I play Pearl Drums...it was the first kit I ever played...then the next thing you know I moved up to the next best kit, then the next...then I got the endorsement and now I have that dream kit.

What do you do on the bus to pass time?

Video games...we have a 360 and a PS3...everybody brings there systems from home...now it’s a fight of who’s gonna play what...we play a lot of NHL ’09...

Scott, the founder and co-owner of this site would be ecstatic because that is his favorite game!

I play it non-stop...take money from the others...

You said this came together in two years...what were you doing before this?

I was actually scooping poop at a veterinarian clinic, not gonna lie! That was after the single had been released, really right in the middle of it. Right before I was driving a forklift on a shipping dock. They sent us on tour, and then when we came back I worked at that clinic.

What kind of music do you listen to? What’s on your I Pod?

My favorite bands are Thrice, Incubus, Deftones...and so on...

Our famous question...where do you think you are gonna be in seven years?

If it’s anything like the last 2 or 3 years, then hopefully playing festivals of thousands. I would like to be doing big headlining tours. If we can stay around for that long and stay fresh, then we are doing our job.

What do you guys have coming up in the near future?

We are finishing up these headlining dates and we’ve got some festivals coming up. We are playing Rock on the Range in Ohio...

That’s a huge step...

I think we are going to be on a side stage, but just the lineup of Alice in Chains and such...that’s another one of those bands for me...but yeah, we already recorded three or four songs for the new record...so we are busy. And we are just waiting it out...it’s the fun part.

Traveling all over the place is odd...do you ever get home sick?

Not really...I miss my dogs and my little brother, and that’s just about it. This is what I love to do, and it exceeded my expectations...there are people right now wrapped around the block...its awesome.

We are winding down...any screw ups on stage?

Every night! The studio is about being perfect...a night like tonight is about putting on a show...even last night I went to hit a cymbal, and lost it...it went so high, I have no idea as to where it was.

How’s the fans response?

They have been great...we have just been voted number one on the viewers choice video on Fuse...I think two weeks in a row now. We have really loyal fans that actually travel and come to three or four shows.

Is there anything you want to say to them?

Thanks for making our dreams come true...everyday I wake up and say don’t make this end...at 22, I feel I’ve accomplished everything I wanted to.

For being so young, you’ve accomplished so much...congratulations.